Apparatus for filling and weighing cans



July 29, 1924. 1,503,402

- Qf WEIFFENBACH APPARATUS FOR FILLING AND WEIGHING CAN Filed Oct 19, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet l Am m Ill/i ///I- July 29 1924.

1,503,402 C. WEIFFENBACH APPARATUS FOR FILLING AND WBIGHING CANS Filed Oct. 19, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet. 2

July 29. 1924.

C. WEIFFENBACH APPARATUS FDR FILLING AND WEIGHING CAN Ill, 20 5 F- a v 3 Shuts-Sheet 3 Patented Juiy 29, 1924.

UNITED PATENT ()FFICE.

cAsPER WEIFLEENBAOHI, or s'cnrnnc, NEW yon-K, ASSIGN'OR 'ro HARVEY-11m ns MACHINE CORPORATION, OF BUFFALO, NEVJ YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

APPARATUS FOR FILLING AND wares-ins sass.

Application fileifl October 19; 1922. Serial No. 595,670.

T 0 all w/lom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CASPER YVEIFFENBACH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Filling and ll eighing Cans, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in apparatus for filling containers, such as cans, bottles or other receptacles, with liquids, which apparatus weighs the liquid filled into each receptacle and stops the flow of liquid when a predetermined quantity has passed into the same.

It is the object of my invention to provide such an apparatus in which the valve controlling mechanism is instantly responsive when the receptacle has been filled with a definite quantity of liquid, insuring great-. er accuracy and uniformity in the amount of liquid filled into the cans or receptacles and also permitting a larger number to be filled in a given time. 7

A further ob ect is the p'rovislon of 1mproved means in such mechanism by which the valve can be instantly and reliably reset in its open position when an empty can is placed in position to be filled.

An additional object is to construct the controlling mechanism of comparatively few parts which can be easily and qniclrly adjusted or replaced and are not liable to get o'nt oi order.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure l is a side elevation of a can fillingiiachine embodving my improvements, showing the" valve controlling mechanism in its inoperative position when the valve is seated or closed. FigureQ is a sectional elevation of the valve chamber andsupply line, showing the valve seated. fragmentary side elevation of the valve con-v trolling mechanism showing the same in its operative or locked position when the valve is open. Figure "is a fragmentary rear elevation, showing the parts in the positionshown' in 3. Figure is a fragmentarv sectional elevation taken on line 5 5', Fig. 3. Figure 6 is a transverse sec- Figure 8 is an enlarged tion of the scale and table takenon line 66, Fig. 1. Figure 7 is a fragmentary longitudinal section of the scale. 7

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

In its general organization, the filling machine embodying my invention comprises a platform which is mounted on one arm of a scale upon which the r ceptacle to be filled is disposed beneath the filling nozzle, a shipper rod mounted on the other arm of the scale and operating to trip the valvecontrolling mechanism which seats the valve when the table is lowered to a predetermined point under the increasing weight of the can and contents, and means for resetting the trip mechanism.

The several parts of the machine are mount-ed on an upright post, standard or support 1 which preferably consists of a length of pipe screwed at its lower end into a base 4. The frame or support 3 of the scale upon which the receptacles 2 are weighed and filled is supported on the lower part of the standard 1 by a bracket 5.

The can 2 to be filled is placed on the platform 7 beneath the discharge nozzle 6 of the filling mechanism and supported on one arm 8 of the scale beam. arm 9 of the scale beamis supported a plat form 10 upon which the counterbalancing weights 101 are placed. This last mentioned arn1'9 also supports the lower end of the upright shipper rod 11 which operates the valve control mechanism. .The central part of the scale beam is provided on its opposite sides with pivots or bearings 19 which rest in notches 20 formed in the upper ends of two arms 21 extending upwardly from the scale frame 8. The outer bifurcated ends of the scale beam are provided with knife edge bearingsor pivots 12. The platforms 7, 10 are hung from these hearings or pivots by supporting yohes 13, 1%, each having eyes 15, 16 which rest on the knife edge bearings 12. v

The lower end of each yoke is provided with a limiting cross piece 27 which is secured to the upper end of a vertical alining rod 31. The latter is pivoted at its lower end to one arm of a retaining lever 32 which is fulcrumed on the lower end of av hanger 34 suspended from the central part of the scale frame to swing parallel with the scale beam and retain the yokes in an upright position. In the preferred construction of the scale frame the same is made hollow and provided at its opposite ends with upright cylindrical tubular members or sleeve-s 30 which receive the rods 31. In order to render the scale more steady, and thus avoid jarring and spilling of'the filled containers,

it has been'found advisable to limit the upward movement of each yoke and beam arm so that the other yoke on the depressed beam arm cannot rest upon the adjacent fixed part 30 of the scale frame. It has been found that if this were allowed, the eyes of the supporting yoke 13 when depressed under the weight of the filled container, wouldbe thrown out of engagement with the bearings 12 and the container platform would be supported only by the reduced upper end of the cylindrical member 30 below the same and thus render the can unsteady. To avoid this, two upright fingers are provided on the cylindrical members which have inwardly extending stops or projections 26 each adapted to be engaged by the corresponding lower cross piece or member 27 before the yoke at the other end of the scale beam seats against the adjacent cylindrical part 80, therebyretaining engagement of the bearings 12 on that end of the scale beam with the eyes of the yoke, and insuring a steady platform.

In the absence of these stops the lower end of the yoke on the descending arm of the scale beam would strike; the adjacent end of the scale frame and take the weight of the respective platform off the corresponding end scale bearing pivot which would permit the lowered fplatforin to wobble and support the container resting thereon unsteadily. By providing the ends of the scale frame with stops which limit the upward movement of each end yoke before the other end yoke can descend into engagement with the scale frame, these yokes are always held firmly and reliably in engagement with the bearing pivots on the ends of the scale beam and thus prevent wobbling of the platforms and the parts resting thereon, so that the depressed platform carrying the filled container will support the latter properly and not permit its contents to be spilled and thus not only wasted but soiling the scale and also producing short weight in the container.

The liquid with which the containers are filled is forced by gravity or otherwise through the supply line 37 which is provided with the usual hand controlled valve 38, As shown in Fig. 2, this supply line is screwed into an enlarged portion of the valve chamber. For the purpose of rendering the valve chamber more convenient to repair, it is composed of several sections consisting of an upper chamber or air dome I 43 which is supported on the mainframe by a hollow bracket'44, a lower or fluid chamber section 45 provided at its lower end with the nozzle 6 having the valve seat 46, and an externally threaded pipe section 4'? connecting the dome and fluid chamber. Arranged vertically within this valve chamber is the weighted valve stem 48, the stopper or valve plug 49 of which is loosely pivoted to the lower end of the stem by a pivot 50. 'The valve is suspended at its upper end from the'valve arm or lever 52 in any suitable mannenthe means shown comprising a hook 53, passing through an eye 42 in the valve. This valve lever is suitably secured at its inner end to a horizontal transverse shaft 54, so as to move therewith, and the same swings within the passage of the hollow bracket 44. In order to allow filling of cans which have the filling openings either at the center or adjacent to the edge, the hollow bracket 44 may be supported from thestandard 1 by means of a clamping bracket 56 engaging one of several depending lugs57 arranged on the underside of the hollow bracket 44. By using one or another of these lugs the filling nozzle, may be moved longitudinally relatively to the platform 7 and effect the object stated; For the purpose of adjusting, cleaning or inspecting the shaft oryalve lever, a screw plug 58 is provided at the rear end of the hollow bracket, as bes shown in Fig. 2. a 3

The means for holdingthe filling valve open, until the container has been filled with a definite quantity of liquid, and then closing'the same, comprise a trip mechanism actuated by'the vertical shipper rod 11.

This trip mechanism is preferably mounted on a triangular bracket 59 which is arranged.

verticallyand clamped against theihollow bracket section 44 by the nut-shaped enlargement 72 of the sleeve bushing 63 which is screwed into the said hollow bracket section, as shown in Fig. 5. On the rear corner of the bracket 59 a secondary 'detent member or locking lever 60 is pivoted to swing vertically, the same being actuated by means of the trip rod 61 which passes through this detentarm and extends rearwardly therefrom. Similarly, a primary detent member or arm 62' is pivoted on the forward corner of the bracket 59 and extends rearwardly. As shown in Fig. 5, the

shaft 54 which. actuates the valve is journaled at 55 in the hollow bracket section 44, and extends through the screw sleeve or bushing 63, and a stuifing box 64. Secured to the outer end of this shaft by means of a clamping screw is the valve detent memher or segment 66. This detent segment extends upwardly and is referably offset laterally so as to bring tie upper supporting and abutment surfaces 67, 68, of its vertical fan-shaped portion or wing into engagement with the detent pin 69 of the primary detent arm 62, beneath which the detent segment is arranged. The backward movement of the detent segment is limited by the conact stop 74 which consists of a screw mounted in a lug on the bracket 59 and held against loosening by a lock nut 76. The stop screw extends through said lug and engages the lug 78 on the detent segment and limits the backward movement of the latter. In its preferred form, the upper surface 67 of this detent segment is substantially concentric with the axis of the transverse shaft 54, but the front upper face 68 thereof is formed at an angle to a radial line from the axis of the valve shaft or to the curved upper face 67, so that the forward edge of the wing in effect forms a cam or wedge face which joins the said concentric face. The primary detent arm 62 is arranged above the detent segment and is preferably arched to clear the same and the detent pin 68 extending downwardly therefrom at an angle is arranged so that when the detent segment is in its rearmost position, hence when the valve is in its open icsition, this pin engages the angular face 68, as shown in Fig. 3. Extending rearwardly from the outer end of the primary detent arm and substantially radially to the are through which it swings is a locking shoulder or pin 70, which is engaged by the corresponding locking shoulder or pin 71 which extends downwardly from the secondary locking lever 60 and preferably rearwardly therefrom. The pin of this detent arm is preferably somewhat beveled at its extreme outer ends, to allow the pin 71 to freely engage and disengage it. The rear end of the trip rod 61, passing through the secondary locking lever 60 is longer than its forward end, so as to constantly tend to throw the pin 71 into engagement with the pin 70 of the primary detent arm. The up per end of the shipper rod 11, which is adjustably secured to the counterweight platform or tray 10 of the scale and arranged to throw up the trip arm 61 and release the valve, is preferably crooked, as shown in Fig. 4, so as to easily engage the rod 61.

In order to re-set the trip mechanism in its locked position, and open the valve, an E'r-shaped hand operated lever is provided which extends downwardly from the segment detent to within convenient reach of the operator. On moving this lever forwardly, the detent segment 66 is moved backwardly and the weighted valve raised and the primary detent aan is allowed to fall until its detent pin or shoulder 69 engages the angular face 68. This primary detent arm is retained in this position by the simultaneous engagement of the pin 71 of the sec ondary locking lever 60 with the pin or shoulder 70 of the primary detent arm. It has been found preferable to provide a transverse horizontal rod 73 on the valve casing on which the operator may rest his hand during continuous filling of cans, and use of the lever 80. The upper part of this lever preferably passes through the detent segment and extends for some distance to the rear of the same. For permitting regulation of the speed with which the valve descends, a counterweight 78 is slidably mounted on this rearward extension 79 of the hand lever 80. In filling containers with light liquids, such as turpentine, it is advisable to lower the valve more slowly and eliminate undue splashing and waste. To effect this, the weight 78 is moved outwardly on the extension 79 so as to counterbalance the weighted valve to the desired extent and decrease its potential energy.

Means are provided for resetting the trip mechanism by a foot treadle consisting of a treadle mounted on the base and having a front arm or pedal 81 and a weighted roar arm 82 which treadle is pivoted transversely in a bearing block 83 secured to the base of the machine. This foot treadle actuates a substantially vertical rod 84, which is pivotally fastened to the treadle a point forward of ti e bearing block, which in turn actuates the detent segment 66. For this purpose, the detent segment is provided with a rearwardly extending arm or projection 85 having a vertical hole through which the treadle rod 84: passes. Nuts 86 are provided for actuating the detent member as the treadle rod is reciprocatcd. when the treadle is depressed, the treadle rod throws the projection 85 downwardly, moving the detent segment rearwardly and resetting the trip mechanism in the same manner as wnen the hand lever 80 is moved forwardly toward the hand rest 73.

The operation of the machine is as follows:

Assuming the machine in the operation of filling a container, as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, the trip mechanism is locked and the detent segment is prevented from being moved forwardly under the pressure caused by the weighted valve, as the detent or lookin pin 69 of the primary detent arm has a wedging engagement with the angular face 68 of this detent segment and the secondary lockin lever is held with its )in '51 in this I engagement with the pin 70 at the rear or free end of the primary detent arm by the trip rod 61. The can 2 while being filled, increases in weight until it more than counterbalances the weight 101 on the other .mined weight.

arm of the scale beam and lowers the can supporting arm of the scale beam. This moves the shipper rod 11 upwardly, throwing the rear arm of the trip rod 61 up, and releasing the pin 71 from engagement with the pin 70. This permits the Weight 48 of thesuspended valve 49 to throw the detent segment forwardly, forcing the primary cletent arm up by the wedging or cam action of the angular face 68 and at the same time allows the valve to engage the seat 46 and cut off the flow of liquor. The filled container is then replaced with an empty one, and the scale and shipper rod 11 reset to assume the first position preparatory to filling the next can withliquid of a predeter- As the operator moves the hand resetting lever 80 forwardly, or effects the same result by the foot treadle 81, 82, as described, theweighted valve 49 is manually raised, allowing the liquid to again fill the next can, the primary detent'arm pin 69 falls back into engagement with the cam orangular face 68 by'reason of the Weight of the lever and the pin '71 of the secondarylocking lever engages the beveled pm 70 of the primary detent arm and is held there by the V By supporting the greater part of the weight of the valve by the engagement of the cam, or angular face of the detent segment with, the front end of the detent arm, and using the more delicate pin engagement the extreme outer end of the secondary locking lever to merely retain the engage ment between the detent segment and arm,

a wedging engagement with said detent member for holding said valve in its open position, and releasing means for releasing said wedging engagement between said detent and said holding means.

2. In a machine of the character described, a valve, means tending to hold said valve in its closed position, a detent .member operatively connected with said valve,

a cam face onsaid detent'member, a mova-' '16 member engaging said cam face and holding said valve in its open position, means for releasing said member from engagement with said cam face, and means for resetting said member into engagement with said cam face.

3.111 a machine of the character de scribed, a valve, means tending to hold said valve in its closed position,.a detent member operatively connected with said valve, a cam face on said detent member, a movably mounted detent arm, an element on said detent arm engaging said cam face, and holding said valve in its open position, means for shifting said detent arm, and releasing said element from engagement with said cam face, and means for resetting the same into engagement with said cam face.

4 In a machine of the character described, a valve, means tending to hold said valve in its closed position, a detent member operatively connected with said valve, cam face on said detent member, a movably mounted detent arm, an element on said detent arm engaging said cam face and holding said valve in its open position, means for holding said detent arm in position for engaging said element with said cam face comprising a detent lever engaging said detent. arm, means for releasing said detent lever fromengagement with said detent arm, and means fortresetting said detent lever inengagement with said detent arm,

In a machine of the character described, a valve, means tending to hold said valve in its closed position, a detent member operatively connected with said valve, a cam face on said detent member, amovably mounted detent am n element on said detent arm en agin said cam face and holding said valve in its open position, means for hold- 7 ing said detent arm in position for engagng said element with saidcam face comprising a detent lever engaging said detent arm, means tending to throw said detent lever into engagementwith said detent arm, means for releasing said lever from engagement with said detent arm, and means for resetting said detent lever in engagement with said detent arm. f

6. In a machine of the character described, a valve, means tending to hold said valve in its closed position, a detent member operatively connected with said valve, a cam face on said detent member, a movable member engaging said cam face and holding said valve in its open position, means tending to retain said movable member in engagement with said cam face, means for releasing said member from engagement with said cam face,and means for resetting said member into engagement with said cam face. 7

7. In a container filling machine, 'a discharge valve, means tending to hold said valve in its closed position, a shaft actuating said valve, a detent member secured to said shaft and having a supporting face substantially concentric with the axis of said shaft, and a cam face joining said concentric face, a movably mounted detent arm swinging toward said concentric and cam faces, an element on said detent arm adapted to engage said concentric and cam faces, means for releasing said element from engagement with said cam face, and means for resetting said element in engagement with said cam face.

8. In a container filling machine, a discharge valve, means tending to hold said valve in its closed position, a shaft actuating said valve, an upwardly extending detent member secured to said shaft and having a supporting face substantially concentric with the axis of said shaft and a cam face joining said concentric face, a pivoted detent armarranged above said detent member and swinging toward and from said concentric and cam faces, an element on saiddetent arm near its pivoted end adapted to, engage said cam and concentric faces, a detent lever engaging the outer end of said detent arm and holding said element in engagement with said cam face, means for releasing said detent lever from engagement with said detent arm, and means for resetting said detent lever and detent arm into their normal operative positions.

9. In a container filling machine, a discharge valve, means tending to hold said valve in its closed position, a shaft actuating said valve, a detent member secured to said shaft and having a supporting face substantially concentric with the axis of said shaft, and a cam face joining said concentric face, a movably mounted detent, arm swinging toward said concentric and cam faces, an element on said detent arm adapted to engage said concentric and cam faces, means for releasing said element from engagement with said cam face, means for resetting said element in engagement with said cam face comprising a rod passing through the detent member substantially tangential to the are through which said detent member swings adapted, to be operated by hand.

10. In a container filling machine, a discharge valve, means tending to hold said valve in its closed position, ashaft actuating said valve, a detent member secured to said shaft and having a supporting face substantially concentric with the axis of said. shaft and a cam face joining said concentric face, a. movably mounted detent arm swinging toward said. concentric and. cam. faces, an element on said detent, arm adapted to engage said concentric and cam faces,

means for releasing said element from engagement with said cam face, means for resetting said element in engagement with said cam face comprising a hand operated rod passing through the detent member substantially tangential to the are through which said detent member swings and a member near the extremity of said rod for supporting the hand in operating said rod.

11. In a container filling machine, a discharge valve, means tending to hold said valve in its closed position, a shaft actuating said valve, a detent member secured to said shaft and having a supporting face substantially concentric with the axis of said shaft and a cam face joining said concentric face, a movably mounted detent arm swinging toward said concentric and cam faces, an element on said detent arm adapted to engage said concentric and cam faces, means for releasing said element from engagement with said cam face, means for resetting said element in engagement with said cam face comprising a foot treadle operatively secured to said detent member.

12. In a container filling machine, a discharge valve, means tending to hold said valve in its closed position, a. shaft actuating said valve, a detent member secured to said shaft and having a supporting face substantiallyv concentric with the axis of said shaft and a cam face joining said concentric face, amovably mount-ed detent arm swinging toward said concentric and cam faces, an element on said detent arm adapted to engage said concentric and cam faces, means for releasing said element from ongagement with said cam face, means for resetting said element in engagement with said cam face comprising an extension on said detent member arranged substantially horizontally and radially relatively to said shaft, foot treadle movably mounted on the base ofthe machine, and a rodoperative ly connecting the treadle arm with the extension on the detent member.

13. In a container filling machine, a discharge valve, means tending to hold said valve in its closed position, a shaft actuating said valve, an upwardly extending detent member secured to said shaft and having a supporting face substantially concentric with the axis of said shaft and a cam facejoining said concentric face, as'top to limit the motion of the detent member in. opening the valve, a pivoted detent arm arranged, above said. detent member and swinging toward and from saidconcentricand cam faces, an element on said detent arm near its pivoted endadaptedto engage said cam and concentric faces, a; detent lever engaging the outer end of said detent arm, and, holding said element in engagement with said cam face, means. for, releasing said detent lever. from engagement with, aid detent arm, and

so enin the valve a ivoted detent arm p7 b V 7 p arranged above said detent member and swinging toward and from said concentric and cam faces, an element on said detent arm near its pivoted end adapted to engage said cam and concentric faces, a detent lever engaging the outer end of said detent arm and holding said element in engagement with said cam face, means for releasing said detent lever from engagement with said detent arm, and means for'resetting said detent lever' and detent: arm into their normal operative positions, 7 '15. Ina container filling and weighing machine of the characterdescribed, a discharge valve, means tending to hold said valve in a closed position, a shaft operatively connected with said valve, an up wardly extending detent segment secured to said shaft and having an upper supporting face arranged concentric w1th sald shaft and a cam face oining saidconcentrio face,

7 a vertical support nearsaid detent member,

an adjustable stop on said support to limit the movement of said detent segment, a detent arm pivotally mounted on said support extending over said detent segment, said detent arm having a shoulder near the inner end thereof adapted to engage said cam face of said detent segment when the valve is open, and the concentric face thereof when the valve is closed, a detent lever pivotally mounted on said support and'having a shoulder on its lower end adapted to engage a corresponding shoulder on the end of the, detent arm when the cam face of the detent segment engages the corresponding shoulder on the detent arm,a trip rod extending through said detent lever tending to" throw the same into engagement with said detent arm, a shipper rod actuating said trip rod," means for actuating said shipper rod when the container has been filleda predetermined amount, means for resetting the detent segment in engagement with the corresponding shoulder-of the de -V tent arm consisting of ahand' lever extending through the detent'segment tangential t0 the are through which it swings, said hand lever having a downward extension near the lower end of the valve casing, a rod extending laterally fromthe lower end of the casing and forming a hand rest for the operator, an extension on said detent segment projecting in the opposite direction from said hand lever, a foot lever pivotally mounted on the base ofthe machine, and an actuating rod operatively connecting said foot lever with said extension on the detent segment.

16. In a container filling and weighing machine of the character described, a scale I beam fulcrumed at its center, platforms pivotally mounted at the extremities of said scale beam, a frame arranged below said scale beam and supporting the same, fingers projected upwardly from said frame and adapted to limit the upward movement of said platforms. 7 l

17. In a container filling and weighing machine of the character described, a scale beam fulcrumed at its center, platforms at either end of said scale beam, members supportingisaid platforms, pivotal means connecting said supporting members with'said scale beam, shoulders on said supporting members, a frame supporting said beam and arranged lengthwise below the same, upwardly extending fingers arranged at the ends of said frame and adapted to engage said shoulders on said supporting members, each limiting the upward movement of the corresponding platform and limiting the downward movement of the opposite platform. a '7 18. In a container filling and weighing machine of the character described,a scale beam fulcrumed at its center,'platforms at either end of said scale beam, members sup porting said platforms,'pivotal means cone necting said supporting'members with said scale beam, shoulders on said supporting members, a frame arranged below said scale beam lengthwise thereof and supporting'the same, upwardly extending cylindrical members arranged on the frame below said supporting members and having openings, 'ver-' tical 'alining rods depending from'said supporting'members through the openings of said cylindrical members, a vertical rod arranged'in said frame below the fulcrum of the scale beam, arms within saidframe' connectingsaid last named rod with the-alin ing rods,; and fingersprojecting upwardly from the ends ofv said frame each adapted to engage the corresponding shoulder of the a 7 adjacent supporting member and limit the upward movement of the corresponding. platform, and the downward movement; of

the opposite platform.

i 19. In a mach'n'e' of the character'de-j scribed,"a valve comprising a nozzle having a seat andastopper'movablei relatively to said seat, a 'rock 'shaftoperatively' connected with said valve,a handle connectedwith r 7 said shaft, a detent segment connected with said shaft and provided witha curved supporting surface arranged concentrically With the axis of said shaft and an abutment surface arranged at one end of the supporting surface and at an angle to a radial line from said axis, a fixed bracket, a primary detent arm pivoted on said bracket and having a projection adapted to engage said abutment and supporting surfaces and having a shoulder atits free end, a secondary detent lever pivoted on said bracket and provided on one end With a shoulder adapted to engage the shoulder on said primary detent arm, a trip rod arranged on the other end of said secondary detent-lever, a shipper rod adapted to engage said trip rod, and a scale having its beam operatively connected With said shipper rod.

20. In a machine of the character described, a filling nozzle having a seat, a stopper movable relatively to said seat, a vertically rocking scale beam having hearing pivots at its ends, means for transmitting motion from said beam to said stopper, a frame upon Which said beam is pivotally mounted, yokes mounted on said bearing pivots and provided with platforms, and stops arranged on the ends of said frame and each adapted to be engaged by the yoke on the respective end of the scale beam during its upward movement before the yoke on the opposite end of the beam engages With the adjacent end of the frame.

CASPER WEIFFENBACH. 

